Moondancer sat back in her chair with a tired sigh – one she hadn’t let out in quite some time. Her eyes wandered across her desk. The cluttered workspace had a few new additions atop her papers and books: a handful of letters and their torn envelopes.
Lemon Hearts, seeing as she worked in the palace, was busy this year with the Hearth’s Warming preparations. Everything was bigger in Canterlot, after all – even holidays had to become royal affairs. Twinkleshine was spending Hearth’s Warming with her family in Silver Shoals – apparently her grandmother was hosting some sort of family get-together. Minuette was doing something similar.
Each of her closest friends in Canterlot was off doing something else this year, and though each one of them sent their best holiday wishes, that didn’t lessen their absence.
Moondancer’s eyes wandered over to her bookshelves. At least she had plenty to entertain herself with in terms of reading material – even if she had gone through most of the books she owned a few times already. However, compared to the good times she spent with her friends, it hardly seemed the same.
Suddenly there was a green flash in front of her and the faintest hints of brimstone. It was enough to make her jump back – causing her and her chair to wind up on their backs on the floor.
As she got to her hooves and adjusted her glasses with her magic, Moondancer found she had yet another letter waiting for her on her desk. She huffed a sigh and righted her chair. “Right, I keep forgetting Spike can do that,” she muttered.
Taking her seat, she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter, her eyes scanning a mile a minute without missing a word – after all, years of studying had paid off in some way. The letter read:
“Dear Moondancer, Happy Hearth’s Warming. I heard from Minuette and our other friends that they would be busy this year. Spending this time of year alone seems the antithesis of the holiday, don’t you think? If you didn’t have any plans, I would like to cordially invite you to Ponyville to celebrate with me, Spike, and my friends here. After missing that one party, I wouldn’t want you to feel left out again. I hope you can make it, and if not, I hope to see you the next time I’m in Canterlot. Your friend, Twilight Sparkle.”
Moondancer swallowed and set the letter down, staring at it distantly. She used her magic to stretch her turtleneck’s neckline and buried her muzzle in it and shut her eyes. With a slight inhale, she gave off a sigh and looked back down at the letter.
She’d spent a lot of time with Twilight and her other friends – well, before the whole Nightmare Moon thing had come up – but they’d only spent one Hearth’s Warming together in Canterlot. Some of the time it was because of family pulling their group apart, but other times it was just her uncertainty and nerves.
Moondancer popped her muzzle out of her sweater and looked over at the picture Spike had given her, of her and all her friends together at the donut shop. A soft smile crossed her muzzle as her eyes fell on Twilight – the whole reason she had started to come out of her shell in the first place, and the whole reason she had slipped back into it.
But now she had a second chance, if the nervous hammering in her chest didn’t stop her like it had the last time. Looking between the letter and her bookshelves, she huffed a sigh.
“I should probably get a train ticket before they stop for the holidays.”
Twilight’s castle was an easier landmark to find than the Canterlot Palace – mostly because you could see it rising over the horizon a good few miles from Ponyville. Its size didn’t seem to diminish once Moondancer got off the train and made her way through the snowy streets. Along with a set of snow boots, her turtleneck provided warmth as well as comfort against the winter chill.
Overhead, Pegasi were shunting snow-laden clouds in order here and there to provide the correct wintery ambiance. The town’s Earth ponies and unicorns were busy stringing garlands and lights, hanging wreaths and baubles, and singing carols to one another. Everypony she passed – who noticed her – gave her a wave and season’s greetings, of which she returned the former. She wasn’t accustomed to being out and about with so many other ponies and bright, colorful decorations.
Twilight’s castle was the center of attention: decorations were being hung from every nook and spun around its spires. Ponies seemed to be trotting in with carts full of presents and steaming hot baked goods, or standing around outside chatting. A few younger ponies were building snowponies and tossing snowballs.
Moondancer trotted inside after a pair of Earth ponies hauling a cart full of pastries. The couple had two children – oddly enough, a Pegasus and a unicorn – who were riding in the back, giggling up a storm. She smiled faintly at them and headed for what seemed to be the main gathering place.
In the great hall of the castle, a huge tree had been set up near the roaring fireplace, lined with presents of different shapes and sizes. The hall was still in the process of being decorated, and Moondancer narrowly dodged some ornaments dropped by a grey Pegasus.
Still, as she scanned the crowd, she couldn’t find Twilight anywhere. Her baser instincts to keep quiet, as if this were a library, and act like a wallflower were starting to kick in – she noticed the castle had plenty of walls to wait quietly by and wait for her to show up, after all. She frowned and shook the idea out of her head fiercely before she started searching. A party with friends, family, and ponies she knew well was one thing, but crowds like this were another.
Moondancer only had to wander for a little bit before, from overhead, there came a “Hey! Looking for someone?” She stopped and looked up to see a pale blue Pegasus with a prismatic mane and tail floating close to the ceiling above her. In a rainbow blur, she landed before Moondancer.
“You must be Rainbow Dash,” Moondancer said. “Fitting name.”
“The one and only,” Rainbow said proudly with a hoof on her chest. “So, who might you be?”
“I’m Moondancer. Twilight invited me—“
Rainbow Dash gasped loudly, cutting her off. “You’re Moondancer? Twilight’s told us so much about you! I mean, I know Minuette and Lyra, but it’s nice to meet you.” The Pegasus looked her up and down. “You certainly do seem like the egghead type.” Moondancer frowned. “So, have you read the most awesomest adventure book series ever to exist?” Moondancer cocked one bush eyebrow, prompting the Pegasus to continue. “You know, the book series by A.K. Yearling? Daring Do?”
The unicorn shrugged. “Never heard of it. I normally read—“
Moondancer frowned as she was cut off again by yet another air intake from Rainbow Dash, watching as she took flight. “Wait here! I think the bookstore is still open!” And before Moondancer could get another word in, Rainbow Dash was gone in a blur worthy her name.
The unicorn looked the way she had flown off, before growling in frustration – the fast-talking Pegasus hadn’t even given her the chance to ask her where Twilight was. How the Pegasus stood still long enough to read was anyone’s guess. Grumbling to herself, she wandered through the gathered ponies to continue her search.
In one corner of the room, she noticed a familiar face: Lyra Heartstrings. She remembered she hadn’t even gotten a letter from the unicorn explaining her holiday plans, nor had she heard from her recently. Next to Lyra, Moondancer could see the reason.
Her aquamarine friend was chatting with a cream-colored Earth pony sporting a curly two-tone mane and a cutie mark of wrapped candies. She seemed oblivious to the fact that Lyra was using her magic to hide a sprig of mistletoe behind her as they talked. Moondancer rolled her eyes, albeit with a light blush on her face.
Someone cleared their throat behind her, and a prim sounding voice spoke up. “You know, it’s rude to eavesdrop.”
Moondancer whirled around to find a snow white unicorn sporting a styled indigo mane and tail standing there. Despite the casual dress of the other ponies, she was wearing eyeshadow.
“S-Sorry, I just…” Moondancer swallowed, fighting back the flush in her cheeks. “Lyra’s a friend of mine. You must be Rarity – Twilight’s told me a lot about you.”
“Oh, she’s a friend of mine too, darling, but.” Rarity looked past Moondancer. “She seems a little… occupied at the moment. I daresay she’s been trying all night with that mistletoe, but I’m not one for gossip.” She flashed a friendly smile. “So, who might you be? One of Twilight’s friends from Canterlot?”
Moondancer nodded. “I’m Moondancer. I just came—“
She frowned as she was cut off by Rarity’s squeal. “Darling! Twilight’s told us so much about you too! How you two were so close back in her Canterlot days. It is so nice to meet you.”
“You’re the second one of Twilight’s friends to say that,” Moondancer said flatly.
“Well, any friend of Twilight’s is certainly a friend of ours, of course.” Rarity looked Moondancer up and down and did her ladylike best to hide her grimace. “Is this… what you always wear?”
“Yeah, it’s my favorite turtleneck.” She stopped herself before she could say why, and found herself fighting her blush once again.
“And your mane and tail look a little… frazzled,” Rarity noted politely, her grimace becoming harder to suppress.”
“Yeah, they’re really hard to brush, so I don’t really put that much effort into it.”
“Darling, when’s the last time you’ve been to a salon?”
Moondancer thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I can’t say I’ve ever needed to, why?”
Rarity gasped loudly, looking fit to faint if there had been a fainting couch nearby, throwing a hoof to her forehead dramatically. “Well, I must rectify this as soon as possible. You say you… like turtlenecks?”
Moondancer shrugged again. “They’re comfy.”
“I must get to work at once!” Rarity proclaimed, and stampeded towards the castle entrance through the throng of ponies. Moondancer’s eyes widened.
“Wait!” she called after her. “Do you at least know where Twilight is?”
Whether it was the noisy crowd around her or the other unicorn simply wasn’t paying attention, Rarity didn’t slow down. With a growl of frustration, Moondancer stomped her hoof. “Is everypony here always in such a hurry?” she muttered to herself.
“Um, excuse me?” asked a quiet voice behind her.
Moondancer turned to find a pale yellow Pegasus with a pale pink mane standing there, shying away at being noticed. The unicorn wondered how close she had been to say anything, given how loud everyone else was compared to her. “Yes?”
“Did you say you were looking for Twilight, as in Twilight Sparkle?”
Moondancer nodded. “Yeah, I am. Do you know where she is?”
“She’s up in her library right now. She was reading the last time I talked to her.” The Pegasus pointed up to the upstairs balcony. “It’s that door right there. You can’t miss it.”
“Thank you very much,” Moondancer said, flashing her a friendly smile. She was about to leave, but stopped herself. “I guess you must be Fluttershy, right?” The Pegasus nodded. “I’m Moondancer.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Fluttershy said, flashing warm smile of her own.
“You know, I was half expecting Pinkie Pie to say hello first, given how bubbly she is.”
“Oh, Pinkie Pie and Applejack are out of town. Applejack’s family is spending Hearth’s Warming with Pinkie’s on her family rock farm,” Fluttershy explained.
“Huh. Well, thanks again.” Moondancer hurried to the stairs, being careful to weave her way through the crowd. She was grateful that not all of Twilight’s Ponyville friends were in too much of a hurry for civil conversation.
“You’re quite welcome. Happy Hearth’s Warming Eve,” Fluttershy said after her, before walking away into the crowd. She went a few steps before she stopped, blinking in surprise. “Wait, Moondancer?” Her ears drooped. “Oh goodness, I didn’t even ask what kind of present she might like.”
Moondancer gulped as she stood before the shut door that Fluttershy had pointed out. It was shut, thankfully, to keep out the unwanted noise in an attempt to preserve the silent sanctity of the library within. It was also perfect for her to collect herself – her knees had been wobbling all the way up the stairs.
Twilight’s friends had distracted her from the fact that she was finally here – again with Twilight and again alone, on yet another Hearth’s Warming Eve. But things had changed – Twilight had a new life, and new friends here in Ponyville. She’d told them all about her past life in Canterlot, and the friends back then, but that’s all they were – just friends.
Moondancer took a deep breath and let it out slowly, staring sternly at the door. There was no need to bring up awkward memories – the past was in the past. She could just walk right in, prove she had showed up, and wish her friend a happy Hearth’s Warming.
“You can do this, Moondancer,” she muttered to herself. She lifted one hoof up and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” came a muffled voice from within.
Moondancer opened the door with her magic and shut it behind her. She almost whistled in appreciation at the castle’s library – it rivaled that of a public one. The room was spacious and towering, with walls lined with bookshelves, the books no doubt in one of Twilight’s organizational systems. The room was dotted with tables and chairs for reading.
And seated at one such table was Twilight Sparkle herself, who looked up from the book she was reading to see who it was. Her face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming tree. “Oh, Moondancer! I’m so glad you could make it!”
“Me too.” Moondancer smiled softly in spite of herself – just seeing Twilight in her natural environment was heartening. She walked over to her, taking a glance at the open book on the table. “So, what are you reading?”
“I was just catching up on A Hearth’s Warming Tale. It’s my favorite Hearth’s Warming story.” Using her magic, Twilight bookmarked her place and shut the book. She got up and met Moondancer halfway, pulling her into a hug with one foreleg. “It’s great to see you again.”
Moondancer caught a whiff of her mane and fought back her blush as she returned the hug, averting her eyes. “Just friends… just friends…” she repeated in her head.
“You, too,” she said aloud.
Twilight pulled back. “Were you able to meet the others? I know you’ve already met Pinkie Pie, but she and Applejack are out of town for the holidays.”
“Yeah, I met them alright – Rainbow Dash and Rarity were in such a hurry I hardly got the chance to talk to them,” Moondancer remarked, adjusting her glasses with her magic.
“Well, it’s the holiday season – maybe they ran off to get you a present,” Twilight said. “After all, they’ve asked a lot about my old friends in Canterlot. I just wish I could remember more. I always had my muzzle in a book.”
“But, a wise pony once told you that there’s more to life than dusty old books, right?” Moondancer asked with a smirk. Twilight giggled and nodded – Moondancer felt her chest lighten.
“I’m glad we could have some time alone to chat, just the two of us,” the alicorn said. “There’s something I should’ve asked you about a long time ago.”
Moondancer’s eyes widened and she cleared her throat to regain some control. “Oh? About what?” she asked.
“Not that… come on, Twilight – you said you forgot…”
“Do you remember last Hearth’s Warming? The last one we spent together in Canterlot? It was right before I moved to Ponyville.”
Moondancer’s heart sunk and she felt the wobbling knees return. “Oh boy… do I…”
“Uh… kinda? I’ve been… busy, with Minuette and the others, so it’s kind of foggy for me too. Making new memories, you know?” Moondancer chuckled nervously, looking away.
“Well, it’s gotten me thinking about a lot of things.” Moondancer’s ears drooped, and she could only watch as Twilight paced before her, head bowed and a serious look of concentration on her muzzle. “About why that party I missed meant so much to you.”
“Oh. That.” Losing to her knees, Moondancer sat down.
“Minuette, Twinkleshine, and Lemon Hearts were your friends too, back then – and they still are – and they showed up. I know I messed up by not being there, and like I told you the last time we met, I know there’s not much I can do that’s going to make that up to you, but I don’t know why.”
Moondancer snorted, but tugged at her turtleneck’s collar. “You missed a party. I think a few ponies would be upset about that, like Pinkie Pie.”
“No, it’s not that – me being there was specifically important to you.” Twilight turned to her. “But why? I mean, I wasn’t the best friend to you all – I always studied more than I hung out, and even then I studied while we hung out.”
Moondancer frowned. One of Twilight’s best features - in this situation, one of her worst faults – was she was too studious. “Well, studying’s important, isn’t it? I mean, back then it was Celestia’s school, but look at you now: you have an entire library in your house!”
But Twilight continued, and Moondancer wished she could block her out discretely. “We rarely even went to events or parties together. And I was always forgetting your birthdays – the last time were even able to hang out together was that Hearth’s Warming. Not to mention I wasn’t the best gift-giver.”
Moondancer gulped, but shot back. “No pony’s perfect, Twilight. With the amount of books we – you – read, it’s a lot to take in. And you were not the worst gift-giver.”
“All those books you got me – why do you think I left ‘thanks for introducing me to the classics’ in that first edition?”
“Moondancer, just tell me.” Twilight stepped closer to her, and the unicorn scooted back. “Why was me making it to that party so important to you?”
In spite of her rapidly-beating heart, Moondancer growled in frustration. Years of emotions bubbled out. “Don’t you get it, Twilight? That party meant so much to me because… because I was going to use it to tell you how I felt, alright?”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Wh-What?”
“Oh don’t play dumb. You knew, didn’t you?” At Twilight’s blank, if not slightly hurt, expression, Moondancer growled again. “Don’t you remember the last Hearth’s Warming we spent together?”
“No… I do, but—“
“I freaking kissed you!”
The library resumed its silence as Moondancer’s word sank in. The unicorn wouldn’t have noticed: she could feel the blood rushing in her ears as her face burned and pounded away at her chest with each deep breath.
Twilight, looking like a deer in headlights, slowly eased back into a sitting position, her gaze sliding to the floor. Her eyes barely blinked. “I… I do remember…” she said quietly. Her hoof went to her cheek as she stared, feverish to the touch.
“Twilight…” Moondancer said as her adrenaline wore off. “I didn’t… I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just… all this time… and you seriously didn’t know?”
“At first, I thought so. I thought it was possible…” Twilight shook her head. “But I just shrugged it off, went on with my studies. I was so caught up in Nightmare Moon to even think about it again. It all makes sense now – the Hearth’s Warming, the party I missed.” Her ears drooped as she looked up at Moondancer. “I really haven’t been the brightest bulb, have I?”
“I…” Moondancer looked away. “I haven’t been the smartest pony either.” She growled, this time at herself. “I just couldn’t tell you to your muzzle, and then I never got the chance to, all because I was just so… so… stupid!”
Twilight set a hoof on her shoulder, smiling softly at her. “I don’t think you’re stupid. We both didn’t exactly know how to talk to ponies back then, much less each other.”
Moondancer nodded and rested her cheek against Twilight’s leg. “Books were always so easier to get along with.” She looked up at Twilight, used her magic to remove her glasses, and set her forehead against Twilight’s neck. “I liked you so much because we were so similar, we got each other.” She sighed. “We even had the same issues, which I thought brought us closer together… but then you ran off to Ponyville before I could say anything.” Tears leaked out, staining Twilight’s coat.
The alicorn wrapped a foreleg around her and held her close. “I’m so sorry,” she muttered. “You meant so much to me too, even if I never showed it.” Twilight shut her eyes. “I can’t believe I just ignored something like that. I let books get between my friends, and us.”
“Me too…” Moondancer brought her forelegs up to hold her close, afraid Twilight would pull away from her. More tears leaked out with the pent up emotions. “Coming here, I thought I could try again, but then I saw how much you had moved on. I was almost willing to just let it all go, but… I can’t. I still have those feelings…”
Twilight pulled back, but only enough to look at her with a kind smile. Moondancer replaced her glasses and sniffled. “I’d like a second chance,” the alicorn said softly. “If you’d be willing to give one. No books between us, just you and me.”
A shaky smile crossed Moondancer’s muzzle and she simply nodded, pulling her into another hug. Twilight pulled her close, and the unicorn heard her inhale and exhale with a soft sigh. Moondancer gave a soft giggle.
“I got you a Hearth’s Warming present,” Twilight said once they had pulled apart. She levitated over a small, neatly wrapped package, topped with a pink bow, over from the table she had been reading at. “Open it up.”
Moondancer took it in her magic, unwrapping and opening it. She gasped at what levitated out: a crescent moon hairpin, mauve purple in color with a gold outline.
“When I saw this, I thought of you and your new hairstyle,” Twilight said with a warm smile.
Moondancer undid her current hair tie, a curtain of three-tone hair falling over her glasses. Both of them giggled before she redid it up with her new clip. “Rarity was right: I need to visit a salon.” She smiled softly at Twilight. “Thanks, Twilight. You’re a better gift giver than you give yourself credit for.”
Twilight beamed proudly. “I’m glad you like it.”
With a sigh, Moondancer’s smile faded as she looked around. “I completely forgot to even look for a present on my way here,” she admitted.
“I wouldn’t worry about getting me one – I’d say you did pretty well as is.” Twilight smiled at her and headed for the door. Moondancer blushed, suddenly finding the floor more interesting. Her friend opened the door, letting the festive commotion downstairs inside. “Hearth’s Warming Eve still seems to be in full swing, care to join me?”
Moondancer smiled softly, joining her at the door. “I’d love to.”
They walked out and at the top of the stairs, Twilight leaned down and pecked Moondancer on the cheek. The unicorn turned a shade of tomato red, looking at Twilight in shock. The alicorn smirked back.
“That’s for last Hearth’s Warming,” she said with a wink, walking down the stairs.
With a sigh and a smile, Moondancer followed after her.
Many moons ago…
Twilight stepped out of the palace ballroom, trading the noisy murmuring of dozens of ponies for the chilly serenity of the walkway to the palace gardens. She walked over to the steps and sat down next to a shivering unicorn.
“You sure you don’t want to come back inside, Moondancer?” Twilight asked. “Minuette and the others were wondering where you went.”
“Parties… aren’t my thing, Twilight,” Moondancer replied. “I mean, I know it’s Hearth’s Warming Eve and all, but I’m… just not comfortable with crowds.”
Twilight nodded and looked out onto the snow-covered garden. The weather Pegasi had set up a slow flurry for the evening. Thick snowflakes fell sparsely and lazily, more content in getting caught in a breeze than hitting their target.
“Well, this seems like the perfect time to give you your Hearth’s Warming present,” the purple unicorn remarked, lighting up her horn. A hastily-wrapped package floated out from the ballroom and over to Moondancer, who blinked in surprise.
“Oh! Uh… I didn’t… bring yours.” Moondancer looked down. “It’s still back at my place.”
“It’s ok – you can give it to me later. Go ahead, open it up.”
Moondancer used her magic to unwrap the box and opened it up, gasping in surprise at its contents. Out of the box, Moondancer levitated a black turtleneck sweater with pink pompoms going down the front like buttons.
“It took a few tries,” Twilight admitted. “But I finally got the hang of those knitting needles. I know it’s not exactly festive, but from what I’ve read, black goes well with just about everything, and I know you like pink. I’m just glad we’re the same size – I would’ve never got the fit right.”
Moondancer sniffled, wiping at her eyes. “It’s perfect, Twilight. Thank you.” She looked to Twilight and smiled warmly. Twilight returned a beaming smile that Moondancer had come to enjoy. It was a proud smile, with all the warmth of having done a good job. Other ponies had always said Twilight wasn’t the best to her friends, but Moondancer knew better.
The cold became an afterthought as Moondancer looked back down at her new sweater, and a single thought made itself known. It’d come up before, several times, even a few times at the very party they were at. Now, she was alone with Twilight, and there was an urge to repay her…
Leaning over abruptly, she kissed Twilight on the cheek. Their eyes both shot open wide at the realization of what she had done. Moondancer recoiled, hooves covering her mouth and her face red. “I’m so sorry,” she said rapidly. Before Twilight could reply, Moondancer raced back into the ballroom, taking her sweater with her and casting aside the package.
Twilight watched her go, unsure of what to say. She blinked dumbly twice before her hoof touched the kissed cheek, feeling how warm it had become. Then she smiled after her friend and shut her eyes. She wasn’t entirely sure what she was feeling, but it felt nice.
Author's Note
Date of Creation (D.o.C.): 12/3/19
Dear FanOfMostEverything-
It took me a few tries to figure out a story idea for Moondancer, seeing as I've never written her before. In the end, I settled on one of my tried and true methods - shipping - after someone in the Quills and Sofas Discord mentioned trying someone with similar character traits. I tried to manipulate the events of and mentioned in "Amending Fences" like a Zelda mirror and light puzzle in terms of interpretation, not to mention why Moondancer likes her sweater so much. Fortunately the Hearth's Warming episode after "Amending Fences," "Hearthbreakers," takes place away from Ponyville, leaving the Ponyville festivities open. I also borrowed a little from "A Hearth's Warming Tale."
I hope you enjoyed the story - all I can say is I tried my best. 
-yours truly,
The Legendary Bill Cipher, Equestria Enthusiast and Secret Santa
(P.S.: Song for this one is "Last Christmas," the Aviators cover of it. It's what the title is based upon.)
